kev35
November 13, 2002 at 12:13 pm

A Question for Lancman…or anyone else who can help.

As you probably know I am researching the loss of Lancaster R5679 and crew over Denmark on the 25th September 1942.

The bomb-aimer, Sergeant Cormack was posted to 61 Squadron following leave on the 6th August 1942. However, he was posted there from 19 OTU at Fores in Scotland which was equipped with Whitleys. Presumably the rest of the crew were posted there at the same time. I understand 61 Squadron had a conversion flight attached.

So, my question is how long would the crew have been with conversion flight before becoming operational? Or would Sergeant Cormack just have been drafted straight into a crew? Anybody got any ideas?

Thank you as well to everyone who has helped so far, it’s really appreciated.

Regards,

kev35

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By: kev35 - 14th November 2002 at 16:57

RE: A Question for Lancman…or anyone else who can help.

Martin,

thanks a lot for that. I wondered how the crewing up worked when moving from a 5 crew aircraft to a seven. Looking at the operations flown by 61 in the period concerned perhaps weather wasn’t too muvh of a hinderance. It could be the crew became operational sooner rather than later. What now seems certain is that the crew couldn’t have completed many operations before being shot down.

Thanks again,

kev35

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By: Nitram - 14th November 2002 at 16:23

RE: A Question for Lancman…or anyone else who can help.

From March 1942 a new crew would normally come from OTU having flown around 80 hours, ready formed with pilot, navigator, air bomber, wireless operator/air gunner (later simply wireless operator) and a gunner. The extra crew members (FE and second AG) would be added at conversion unit stage.

Later many OTUs would bring a six man crew together and only the FE would arrive at the HCU stage.

It is likely that in 1942, before the formation of the HCUs proper, it would be a five man crew that arrived at the squadron’s conversion flight to meet their gunner and flight engineer.

The length of time on the CF? (How long is a piece of string?)It would vary with the weather, operational requirements and the abilities of the crew. Nothing appears set down until the HCUs formed with courses based around a 40 hour syllabus.

Don Charlwood (Journeys into Night) says he arrived at Elsham Wolds on 23.09.42 and joined 103 Sqn proper on Halifaxes on 15.10.02 (ie around three weeks later)Hope this gives some sort of clue.

Martin